Dracaena plant named &#39;CANTIK&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Dracaena surculosa  plant named ‘CANTIK’ which is characterized by the combination of a freely branching, upright growth habit with an abundance of foliage born on strong upright stems, dark green and glossy foliage which is sparsely to moderately and irregularly dotted yellow-green with aging foliage that is blushed and marbled with a lighter shade of green, and the stability of these characteristics from generation to generation.

Latin name of the genus and species: The Latin name of the genus and species of the novel variety disclosed herein is Dracaena surculosa.

Variety denomination: The inventive cultivar of Dracaena disclosed herein has been given the variety denomination ‘CANTIK’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Parentage: ‘CANTIK’ is a spontaneous whole-plant mutation of an unnamed Dracaena surculosa plant (not patented) which was discovered in Kota Tinggi, Johor, Malaysia in the spring of 2016. The mutation was initially noted for its large, dark green foliage. Said mutation was isolated for further evaluation to confirm the uniformity and stability of the unique characteristics first observed. Upon confirmation of the stability and uniformity of the characteristics, the new plant was selected for commercialization.

Asexual Reproduction: Asexual reproduction of ‘CANTIK’, by way of softwood stem cuttings, was first performed in the spring of 2016 in Kota Tinggi, Johor, Malaysia. Through five subsequent generations, the unique features of this cultivar have proven to be stable and true to type.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘CANTIK’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature, day length, and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype. The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘CANTIK’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘CANTIK’ as a new and distinct Dracaena surculosa cultivar:

1. Dracaena ‘CANTIK’ exhibits a freely branching, upright growth habit with an abundance of foliage born on strong, upright stems; and

2. Dracaena ‘CANTIK’ exhibits dark green, glossy foliage which is sparsely to moderately and irregularly dotted yellow-green; and

3. Dracaena ‘CANTIK’ exhibits aging foliage which is blushed and marbled with a lighter shade of green.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 illustrates, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same in color photographs of this type, an exemplary plant of ‘CANTIK’ grown in Kota Tinggi, Johor, Malaysia. This plant, grown in a 23 cm nursery container, is approximately two years old from a rooted young plant.

FIG. 2 illustrates, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same in color photographs of this type, the typical juvenile and intermediate foliage of ‘CANTIK’.

BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

The following observations and measurements, made in September of 2018, describe averages from a sample set of six specimens of two year-old ‘CANTIK’ plants grown in 23 cm nursery pots in Kota Tinggi, Johor, Malaysia. Plants were produced using conventional greenhouse production protocols for Dracaena sp. which consisted of growing under shade cloth, irrigating at regular intervals with ebb and flow flood benches, and fertigation. No chemical treatments of any kind were utilized.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that certain characteristics will vary with older or, conversely, with younger plants. ‘CANTIK’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. Where dimensions, sizes, colors and other characteristics are given, it is to be understood that such characteristics are approximations or averages set forth as accurately as practicable. The phenotype of the variety may differ from the descriptions set forth herein with variations in environmental, climatic and cultural conditions. Color notations are based on The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, The Royal Horticultural Society, London, 2015 (sixth edition).

A botanical description of ‘CANTIK’ and comparisons with the parent plant and most similar commercial Dracaena cultivar known to the inventor are provided below.

-   Plant description:     -   -   Growth habit.—Perennial; upright.         -   Plant profile.—Obovate to broad elliptical.         -   Average height from base to top of foliage.—71.5 cm.         -   Average width.—Average of 57.0 cm.         -   Growth rate.—Moderately fast growing.         -   Plant vigor.—Moderately vigorous to vigorous.         -   Propagation details.—Asexual propagation is accomplished by             softwood stem cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots.—Approximately 16 weeks are required             to initiate roots at 20 degrees Celsius.         -   Disease and pest resistance or susceptibility.—Neither             tolerance nor resistance to normal diseases and pests of             Dracaena japonicus have been observed.         -   Environmental tolerances.—Adapt to USDA Hardiness Zones 10             through 12 and temperatures as high as 40 degrees Celsius;             moderate tolerance to rain and wind. -   Root system:     -   -   General.—Fibrous; freely branched and moderately dense             rooting.         -   Distribution in the soil profile.—Shallow to moderately             deep.         -   Texture.—Smooth; glabrous.         -   Color.—Greyed-orange, RHS N170A. -   Stems:     -   -   Branching habit.—Main stems grow from the plant's base,             freely branching with lateral branches.         -   Number of main stems per plant.—55.         -   Number of lateral branches per plant.—50.         -   Aspect.—Rounded.         -   Length of main stems.—49.0 cm.         -   Diameter of main stems.—Averaging 0.4 cm at the widest             point.         -   Internode length on main stems.—0.5 cm.         -   Attitude.—Main stems are near vertical; lateral branches at             an average angle of 50 degrees to the main stems.         -   Strength.—Very strong.         -   Texture.—Smooth; glabrous.         -   Luster.—Moderately glossy.         -   Color, juvenile.—Yellow-green, RHS 144A.         -   Color, mature.—Yellow-green, RHS 148A.         -   Color at internodes.—Greyed-orange, RHS 165C. -   Foliage:     -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite; foliage is clustered at and near the             apex of the lateral branches.         -   Attachment.—Petiolate.         -   Division.—Simple.         -   Attitude.—Foliage is at an approximate angle of 50 degrees             to the lateral branches.         -   Number of leaves per lateral branch.—6.         -   Lamina.—Dimensions — 9.2 cm long and 2.5 cm wide, on             average. Shape — Lanceolate. Aspect — Slightly curved;             distal portion on the lamina pointing horizontally. Apex —             Narrowly acute. Base — Attenuate. Margin — Finely crenate to             serrulate. Texture and luster of adaxial surface — Smooth,             glabrous and glossy. Texture and luster of abaxial surface —             Smooth, glabrous and moderately glossy. Color — Juvenile             foliage, adaxial surface — In between green and             yellow-green, RHS 143A and 144A; sparsely and irregularly             dotted yellow-green, RHS 144B. Juvenile foliage, abaxial             surface — In between green and yellow-green, RHS 143C and             144A; sparsely and irregularly dotted yellow-green, RHS             144B. Mature foliage, adaxial surface — In between green and             yellow-green, RHS 143A and 147A; sparsely to moderately and             irregularly dotted yellow-green, RHS 144B. The average             diameter of the dots is 0.25 cm. Mature foliage, abaxial             surface — In between green and yellow-green, RHS 143A and             146B; sparsely to moderately and irregularly dotted             yellow-green, RHS 144B. The average diameter of the dots is             0.25 cm. Aging foliage, adaxial surface — In between green             and yellow-green, RHS NN137A and 147A; irregularly blushed             and marbled green, RHS 143A. The average diameter of the             dots is 0.8 cm. Aging foliage, abaxial surface — Green, RHS             137B; irregularly blushed green, RHS 143B. The average             diameter of the blushes is 0.8 cm. Venation — Pattern —             Pinnate. Color, adaxial surface — The midrib is in between             green and yellow-green, RHS 143A and 144A. All other veins             are indistinguishable from the surrounding foliage. Color,             abaxial surface — Yellow-green, RHS 144A. All other veins             are indistinguishable from the surrounding foliage. -   Petiole:     -   -   Length.—0.45 cm.         -   Width.—0.3 cm.         -   Texture.—Glabrous; smooth.         -   Luster.—Matte on the adaxial surface; moderately glossy on             the abaxial surface.         -   Strength.—Moderately strong.         -   Color, adaxial surface.—Green, RHS 143A.         -   Color, abaxial surface.—Green, RHS 143C. -   Bracts:     -   -   Quantity.—1.         -   Position.—At the node.         -   Shape.—Narrowly triangular.         -   Dimensions.—2.2 cm long and 0.5 cm wide.         -   Apex.—Narrowly acuminate.         -   Base.—Broad cuneate.         -   Color, adaxial and abaxial surfaces.—Nearest to in between             greyed-yellow and greyed-orange, RHS 161B and 165D.         -   Base.—Broad cuneate. -   Inflorescence: To date, flowering has not been observed. -   Flower buds: To date, flowering has not been observed. -   Flower: To date, flowering has not been observed. -   Reproductive organs: To date, flowering has not been observed. -   Seed and fruit: To date, flowering has not been observed.

COMPARISONS WITH THE PARENT PLANT AND CLOSEST KNOWN COMMERCIAL VARIETY

Plants of the new cultivar ‘CANTIK’ may be distinguished from its parent, an unnamed Dracaena surculosa plant (not patented), by the characteristics described in Table 1.

TABLE 1 Characteristic ‘CANTIK’ The parent. Foliage shape. Lanceolate but broader Lanceolate but narrower than the parent. than ‘CANTIK’. Foliage size. Smaller than the parent. Larger than ‘CANTIK’. General coloration Darker green when Lighter green when of the foliage. compared to the parent. compared to ‘CANTIK’.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘CANTIK’ may be distinguished from the closest known commercial comparator, Dracaena surculosa ‘DRACMIK04’ (Community Plant Variety Rights application number 2016/3037), by the characteristics described in Table 2.

TABLE 2 Characteristic ‘CANTIK’ ‘DRACMIK04’ Plant height. Taller than Shorter than ‘DRACMIK04’. ‘CANTIK’. General coloration Darker green when Lighter green when of the foliage. compared to compared to ‘DRACMIK04’. ‘CANTIK’. Presence of axial No axial striations. Irregular axial striations striations. are present at and near the central zone of the foliage. Prominence of Inconspicuous light Prominent yellow dots. colored dots on green dots. the foliage. 

That which is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Dracaena plant named ‘CANTIK’, substantially as described and illustrated herein. 